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Gentiana lutea rhizomes are known for their bitter tasting properties conferred by its unique biochemical content. They are currently of interest in phytotherapy, animal nutrition, food processing, cosmetic applications and agroecology. In this study, a NIRS, fluorescence and HS-SPME-GCMS dataset of 55 rhizomes from four different French mountains (Alpes, Jura, Massif Central and Pyrénées) was collected with the aim of assessing the variability of Gentiana lutea composition at different scales. The feasibility of data fusion strategies was demonstrated to be effective in distinguishing the geographical origin of Gentiana lutea roots over a wide area. The results suggest that data fusion methods have the potential to be more effective in the quality of separation of studied sites of Gentiana lutea roots than individual decisions obtained from individual analytical tools. However, to guarantee the geographical origin of Gentiana lutea roots within a single massif using these techniques, environmental factors must be considered., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. All authors agreed with the published version of the manuscript., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Human Aichi virus 1 (AiV-1) is a water- and food-borne infection-associated picornavirus that causes gastroenteritis in humans. Recent studies on environmental waters showed a high frequency and abundance of AiV-1, suggesting that it might be an appropriate indicator of fecal contamination. We screened 450 surface and drinking water samples from a Tunisian drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) and the Sidi Salem dam for AiV-1 by real time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-qPCR). The persistence of infectious particles was evaluated using an integrated cell culture approach coupled with quantitative molecular detection (ICC-RT-qPCR). In all, 85 (18.9%) water samples were positive for AiV-1 with viral loads ranging from 0.47 to 11.62 log 10 cp/L and a median of 4.97 log 10 cp/L, including 30/100 raw, 18/50 decanted, 14/50 flocculated, 9/100 treated, 1/50 tap, and 13/100 surface water samples. Of these, 15 (17.6%) samples contained infectious AiV-1 genotype A particles, including five raw, four decanted, one surface, three flocculated, and two treated water samples. Our data suggest that the persistence of infectious AiV-1 particles in environmental waters might represent a potential threat to public health. This study also indicates that the ICC-RT-qPCR is a practical tool for monitoring human waterborne viral risk in aquatic environments.IMPORTANCEHuman Aichi virus 1 (AiV-1) is a water- and food-borne infection-associated picornavirus that causes gastroenteritis in humans. Its high frequency and abundance in environmental waters would suggest that it might be an appropriate indicator of fecal contamination. The analysis of surface and drinking water samples from a Tunisian drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) and the Sidi Salem dam using an integrated cell culture approach coupled with a quantitative molecular detection (ICC-RT-qPCR) confirmed the persistence of infectious AiV-1 particles in samples at all stages of the treatment process, except in tap water. This suggests that the persistence of AiV-1 infectivity in environmental waters might represent a potential threat to public health. This study also indicates that the ICC-RT-qPCR is a practical tool for monitoring human waterborne viral risk in aquatic environments., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

This study reports draft genomes of 30 bacteria representative of the plant food system microbiota and isolated from different sources in Italy and France. Individual genomes were reconstructed using PacBIO DNA sequencing: taxonomic classification and distribution of genes involved in microbe-environment interactions are reported to facilitate strains' characterization and utilization.

Introduction: Agriculture is undergoing an agroecological transition characterized by adopting new practices to reduce chemical fertilizer inputs. In this context, digestates are emerging as sustainable substitutes for mineral fertilizers. However, large-scale application of digestates in agricultural fields requires rigorous studies to evaluate their long-term effects on soil microbial communities, which are crucial for ecosystem functioning and resilience., Material and Methods: This study presents provides a comparative analysis in long-term field conditions of fertilization strategies combining annual applications of raw digestate with biennial applications of different organic waste products (OWPs)-biowaste compost (BIO), farmyard manure (FYM), and urban sewage sludge (SLU)-and compares them to combinations of the same OWPs with mineral fertilizers. The cumulative effects of repeated OWP applications, paired with two nitrogen sources-organic (digestate) and chemical (mineral fertilizer)-were assessed through soil physicochemical and microbial analyses. We hypothesized that the combined effect varied according to the N-supply sources and that this effect also depended on the type of OWP applied. Soil microbial communities were characterized using high-throughput sequencing targeting 16S and 18S ribosomal RNA genes, following DNA extraction from soil samples collected in 2022, six years after the initial digestate application., Results: The results indicated that combining OWPs rich in stable and recalcitrant organic matter, such as BIO and FYM, with raw digestate, offers an improved fertilization practice. This approach maintains soil organic carbon (SOC) levels, increases soil phosphorus and potassium content, and stimulates microbial communities differently than nitrogen supplied via mineral fertilizers. While microbial biomass showed no significant variation across treatments, microbial diversity indices exhibited differences based on the type of OWP and nitrogen source. The fertilization strategies moderately influenced prokaryotic and fungal community structures, with distinct patterns depending on the OWP and nitrogen source. Notably, fungal communities responded more strongly to treatment variations than prokaryotic communities., Discussion: This study provides new insights into the cumulative effects of substituting mineral fertilizers with digestates on soil microbial communities and soil physicochemical parameters. The sustainable development of agroecosystems significantly depends on a better understanding of the complex responses of soil microbial communities to different fertilization regimes. Future research should continue to assess the long-term impact of digestate application on soil microbiota in real agronomic field conditions, considering associated agricultural practices., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2025 Mora-Salguero, Montenach, Gilles, Jean-Baptiste and Sadet-Bourgeteau.)

Oxygen is an important parameter in winemaking that can have positive or negative impacts on wine quality. A controlled oxygen management can lead a wine with good potential for ageing to develop an interesting ageing bouquet. On the other hand, when oxygen intake is not well controlled, loss of freshness and fruitiness can occur, and some faulty oxidative notes can appear. Oxidation is thus an ambiguous sensory concept and producers' representation of oxidation in white wine may be very different depending on the oenological practices linked to their geographical areas. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of oenological practices and environment on wine experts' mental representations of oxidation. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with twenty-six French winemakers, half from Burgundy and half from Jura. The results showed that the winemakers from both regions were quite consensual regarding the sensory dimensions associated with oxidation but there were differences between the two regions in terms of which types of oxidation they considered. The idea of premature oxidation was clearly more salient for the Burgundy respondents than for the Jura ones. Our results stress the context-dependent character of oxidation judgement following wine tasting., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

In the context of the oral cavity, an organic layer known as the mucosal pellicle (MP) adheres to the surface of the oral epithelium, playing a pivotal role in lubricating and safeguarding oral tissues. The formation of the MP is driven by interactions between a transmembrane mucin known as MUC1, located on the oral epithelium, and salivary secreted mucin, namely MUC5B and MUC7. This study aimed to investigate the function of MUC1 and the influence of its structure on MP lubrication properties. We proposed a novel methodology to study oral lubrication based on four different models of oral epithelium on which we conducted in vitro tribological studies. These models expressed varying forms of MUC1, each possessing on of the distinct domain constituting the mucin. Mechanical parameters were used as indicators of lubrication efficiency and, consequently, of the role played by MUC1 in oral lubrication. The results from the tribological tests revealed that the presence of full MUC1 resulted in enhanced lubrication. Furthermore, the structure of MUC1 protein drive the lubrication. In conclusion, the mechanical tests conducted on our epithelium models demonstrated that MUC1 actively participates in epithelium lubrication by facilitating the formation of the MP., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Fungicides are an essential component of current agricultural practices, but their extensive use has raised concerns about their effects on non-target soil microorganisms, which carry out essential ecosystem functions. However, despite the complexity of microbial communities, many studies investigating their response to fungicides focus only on bacteria or fungi at one point in time. In this study, we used amplicon sequencing to assess the effect of the fungicide hymexazol on the diversity, composition, and co-occurrence network of soil bacteria, fungi, and protists at 7, 21, and 60 days after application. We found that hymexazol had very little effect on microbial alpha-diversity, but that microbial community composition and OTU differential abundance were altered over the duration of the experiment, even after hymexazol concentrations were undetectable. The co-occurrence patterns within and between microbial kingdoms were affected by hymexazol dose, suggesting that indirect effects may play a role in the microbial community response. Nitrogen cycling was also affected, with a transient hymexazol-associated increase in the abundance of ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms and soil nitrate concentration. These findings highlight that the effects of fungicides on soil microorganisms are dynamic and extensive, spanning several taxonomic kingdoms., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Recent studies in humans have shown that certain pesticides could affect the composition and functions of the gut microbiota, an essential modulator of vertebrate physiology, leading to potential dysbiosis. However, this relationship remains largely unknown in wild birds despite the implications of pesticides in the current decline of farmland species. The present study sought to fill this gap by providing data on the association between pesticide concentrations in blood and gut microbiota characteristics in relation to individual traits in a farmland raptor, the Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus). Results showed that females with higher body condition and higher pesticide load exhibited greater gut bacterial richness and diversity, while the relationship was opposite in males with higher body condition. In terms of taxonomic composition, Proteobacteria emerged as the dominant phylum across all nestlings. Differences in the abundance of specific phyla and genera were observed according to pesticide load, with higher levels of Bacteroidota and Leifsonia, but lower levels of Bulkholderia, in nestlings with higher pesticide concentrations in their blood. This study highlights differences in microbiota and contamination by several pesticides according to the phenotypic characteristics of a wild raptor, and shows that farmland birds can represent relevant biosentinels for assessing the health/proper functioning of ecosystems (One Health approach)., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have nothing to declare., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Anaerobic digestion represents an opportunity for converting organic waste (OW) into valuable products: renewable energy (biogas) and a fertilizer (digestate). However, the long-term effects of digestates on soil biota, especially microorganisms, need to be better documented to understand the impact of digestate on soil ecosystem functioning and resilience. This study assessed the cumulative effect of repeated pig slurry digestate applications on soil microbial communities over a decade, using an in-situ approach to compare digested feedstock with undigested feedstock and other fertilization treatments. Conducted from 2012 to 2022 at an experimental field site in France, the study involved plots with identical agricultural soil management practices, differing only in fertilization treatments: mineral fertilizer, three different OW (cattle manure, pig slurry, pig slurry digestate), and a control with no organic or mineral fertilizer input. Changes in soil microbial communities were analyzed through molecular microbial biomass and diversity assessments using high-throughput sequencing targeting 16S and 18S ribosomal RNA genes. DNA extraction and molecular analyses were performed on soil samples collected at the start of the trial in 2012 and subsequently in 2017 and 2022. The long-term effects of annual digestate application over a decade include a higher soil microbial diversity in digestate-treated plots than in pig slurry-treated plots, and changes in the soil's microbial community structure and taxonomic composition resembling those observed with mineral fertilizer. Differential abundance analysis at the phylum level revealed few significant differences between digestate- and mineral fertilizer-treated plots for both prokaryotic and fungal communities. Only plots amended with cattle manure exhibited higher soil organic carbon content. Agricultural practices, along with climatic and environmental fluctuations, can significantly influence the response of soil microbial communities, thereby buffering the effects of fertilization treatments. Further research is needed to better understand the effects on soil microbial communities, considering the interactions between repeated digestate applications, different pedological contexts, and agricultural practices., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interest or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Branched broomrape ( Phelipanche ramosa (L.) Pomel), an obligate parasitic weed with a wide host range, is known for its devasting effects on many crops worldwide. Soil fungi, notably Fusarium sp., are described as pathogenic to broomrape, while the hypothesis of the phytotoxicity of fusaric acid produced by F. verticillioides for parasitic weeds of the genus Orobanche has been proposed. Using image analysis and untargeted metabolomics, this study investigated fungal metabolites phytotoxic for P. ramosa and produced by the F. venenatum MIAE02836 strain, isolated from symptomatic broomrapes and identified as a promising candidate for broomrape biocontrol. Phytotoxicity tests of crude extracts from the fungus alone or in interaction with broomrape on P. ramosa microcalli and quantification of necrosis by image analysis confirmed the phytotoxic potential of F. venenatum MIAE02836 metabolites towards the early developmental stages of P. ramosa . Data analysis of a non-targeted metabolomics approach revealed numerous metabolites produced by F. venenatum MIAE02836. Four of them, accumulated during interaction with the parasitic plant, are known for their phytotoxic potential: maculosin, cyclo(Leu-Phe), phenylalanyl-D-histidine and anguidine. These results suggest that combining image acquisition of the microcalli screening test and untargeted metabolomic approach is an interesting and relevant method to characterize phytotoxic fungal metabolites.

Objectives: A difference in cortical treatment of taste information could alter food intake promoting the development of obesity. The main purpose was to compare, in subjects living with obesity (OB) and normal-weight subjects (NW), the characteristics of gustatory evoked potentials (GEP) for sucrose solution (10 g.100 mL -1 ) before and after a standard lunch. The secondary objective was to evaluate the correlations between GEP and the plasmatic levels of acylated ghrelin, leptin, insulin and serotonin., Methods: Each subject had 2 randomized sessions spaced by an interval of 2 days. During one session, subjects were fasting and during the other, subjects took a lunch low in sugar. In each session, subjects had a blood test before a first GEP recording followed by a second GEP recording either after a lunch (feeding session) or no lunch (fasting session)., Results: Twenty-eight OB (BMI: 38.6 ± 9.0 kg.m -2 ) were matched to 22 NW (BMI: 22.3 ± 2.2 kg.m -2 ). GEP latencies were prolonged in OB regardless the sessions and the time before and after lunch, compared with NW (in Cz at the morning: 170 ± 33 ms vs 138 ± 25 ms respectively; p < 0.001). The increase in latency observed in NW after lunch was not observed in OB. Negative or positive correlations were noted in all participants between GEP latencies and ghrelin, leptin, insulin plasmatic levels (P1Cz, r = -0.38, r = 0.33, r = 0.37 respectively, p < 0.0001)., Conclusions: This study highlights a slower activation in the taste cortex in OB compared with NW., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Viruses are abundant and ubiquitous in soil, but their importance in modulating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in terrestrial ecosystems remains largely unknown. Here, various loads of viral communities are introduced into paddy soils with different fertilization histories via a reciprocal transplant approach to study the role of viruses in regulating greenhouse gas emissions and prokaryotic communities. The results showed that the addition of viruses has a strong impact on methane (CH 4 ) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions and, to a minor extent, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions, along with dissolved carbon and nitrogen pools, depending on soil fertilization history. The addition of a high viral load resulted in a decrease in microbial biomass carbon (MBC) by 31.4%, with changes in the relative abundance of 16.6% of dominant amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) in comparison to control treatments. More specifically, large effects of viral pressure are observed on some specific microbial communities with decreased relative abundance of prokaryotes that dissimilate sulfur compounds and increased relative abundance of Nanoarchaea. Structural equation modeling further highlighted the differential direct and indirect effects of viruses on CO 2 , N 2 O, and CH 4 emissions. These findings underpin the understanding of the complex microbe-virus interactions and advance current knowledge on soil virus ecology., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Interactions between plants and microorganisms are pivotal for plant growth and productivity. Several plant molecular mechanisms that shape these microbial communities have been identified. However, the importance of nitric oxide (NO) produced by plants for the associated microbiota remains elusive. Using Arabidopsis thaliana isogenic mutants overproducing NO (nox1, NO overexpression) or down-producing NO (i.e. nia1nia2 impaired in the expression of both nitrate reductases NR1/NIA1 and NR2/NIA2; the 35s::GSNOR1 line overexpressing nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) and 35s::AHB1 line overexpressing haemoglobin 1 (AHB1)), we investigated how altered NO homeostasis affects microbial communities in the rhizosphere and in the roots, soil microbial activity and soil metabolites. We show that the rhizosphere microbiome was affected by the mutant genotypes, with the nox1 and nia1nia2 mutants causing opposite shifts in bacterial and fungal communities compared with the wild-type (WT) Col-0 in the rhizosphere and roots, respectively. These mutants also exhibited distinctive soil metabolite profiles than those from the other genotypes while soil microbial activity did not differ between the mutants and the WT Col-0. Our findings support our hypothesis that changes in NO production by plants can influence the plant microbiome composition with differential effects between fungal and bacterial communities., (© 2024 The Author(s). New Phytologist © 2024 New Phytologist Foundation.)

Odorant metabolizing enzymes, considered as critical olfactory perireceptor actors, control the odor molecules reaching the olfactory epithelium by biotransforming them. As an odorant, the mammary pheromone, i.e., 2-methylbut-2-enal (2MB2), emitted in the milk of lactating female rabbits triggers typical nipple searching-grasping behavior through orocephalic movements in newborn rabbits but not in weaned rabbits. We previously showed that 2MB2 perception is significantly modified when its glutathione transferase-dependent olfactory metabolism is affected in newborns. Here, enzymatic assays of the recombinant enzymes GSTA1, M1, and P1 revealed the activity of these enzymes toward the mammary pheromone. Histological experiments revealed strong expression of the GSTA class restricted to the Bowman glands and of GSTP1 in the nuclei of sustentacular cells. Moreover, some modulations of GSTs have been demonstrated, including a significant increase in GSTP1 expression (2-fold in mRNA, p value < 0.001; protein, p value: 0.031) after 45 min of mammary pheromone exposure at 10 -2 g/mL and an increase in GSTA expression in weaned rabbits compared with newborn rabbits (3-fold in mRNA, p value: 0.011; protein, p value: 0.001). Our results provide new insights into the activity, cellular expression, and modulation of the mammary pheromone GST-metabolizing enzymes and clues about their olfactory function.

During infancy, intersensory facilitation declines gradually as unisensory perception develops. However, this trade-off was mainly investigated using audiovisual stimulations. Here, fifty 4- to 12-month-old infants (26 females, predominately White) were tested in 2017-2020 to determine whether the facilitating effect of their mother's body odor on neural face categorization, as previously observed at 4 months, decreases with age. In a baseline odor context, the results revealed a face-selective electroencephalographic response that increases and changes qualitatively between 4 and 12 months, marking improved face categorization. At the same time, the benefit of adding maternal odor fades with age (R 2  = .31), indicating an inverse relation with the amplitude of the visual response, and generalizing to olfactory-visual interactions previous evidence from the audiovisual domain., (© 2024 The Author(s). Child Development published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society for Research in Child Development.)

Plant survival to a potential plethora of diverse environmental insults is underpinned by coordinated communication amongst organs to help shape effective responses to these environmental challenges at the whole plant level. This interorgan communication is supported by a complex signal network that regulates growth, development and environmental responses. Nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as a key signalling molecule in plants. However, its potential role in interorgan communication has only recently started to come into view. Direct and indirect evidence has emerged supporting that NO and related species (S-nitrosoglutathione, nitro-linolenic acid) are mobile interorgan signals transmitting responses to stresses such as hypoxia and heat. Beyond their role as mobile signals, NO and related species are involved in mediating xylem development, thus contributing to efficient root-shoot communication. Moreover, NO and related species are regulators in intraorgan systemic defence responses aiming an effective, coordinated defence against pathogens. Beyond its in planta signalling role, NO and related species may act as ex planta signals coordinating external leaf-to-leaf, root-to-leaf but also plant-to-plant communication. Here, we discuss these exciting developments and emphasise how their manipulation may provide novel strategies for crop improvement., (© 2024 The Author(s). New Phytologist © 2024 New Phytologist Foundation.)

Protein-based stable isotope probing (protein-SIP) can link microbial taxa to substrate assimilation. Traditionally, protein-SIP requires a sample-specific metagenome-derived database for samples with unknown composition. Here, we describe GroEL-prototyping-based stable isotope probing (GroEL-SIP), that uses GroEL as a taxonomic marker protein to identify bacterial taxa (GroEL-proteotyping) coupled to SIP directly linking identified taxa to substrate consumption. GroEL-SIP's main advantages are that (1) it can be performed with a sample-independent database and (2) sample complexity can be reduced by enriching GroEL proteins, increasing sensitivity and reducing instrument time. We applied GroEL-SIP to pure cultures, synthetic bicultures, and a human gut model using 2 H-, 18 O-, and 13 C-labeled substrates. While 2 H and 18 O allowed assessing general activity, 13 C enabled differentiation of substrate source and utilized metabolic pathways. GroEL-SIP offers fast and straightforward protein-SIP analyses of highly abundant families in mixed bacterial communities, but further work is needed to improve sensitivity, resolution, and database coverage., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

The disposable soma theory (DST) posits that organisms age and die because of a direct trade-off in resource allocation between reproduction and somatic maintenance. DST predicts that investments in reproduction accentuate somatic damage which increase senescence and shortens lifespan. Here, we directly tested DST predictions in breeding and nonbreeding female C57BL/6J mice. We measured reproductive outputs, body composition, daily energy expenditure, and oxidative stress at peak lactation and over lifetime. We found that reproduction had an immediate and negative effect on survival due to problems encountered during parturition for some females. However, there was no statistically significant residual effect on survival once breeding had ceased, indicating no trade-off with somatic maintenance. Instead, higher mortality appeared to be a direct consequence of reproduction without long-term physiological consequences. Reproduction did not elevate oxidative stress. Our findings do not provide support for the predictions of the DST., Competing Interests: Competing interests statement:The authors declare no competing interest.

The influential concept of the rare biosphere in microbial ecology has underscored the importance of taxa occurring at low abundances yet potentially playing key roles in communities and ecosystems. Here, we refocus the concept of rare biosphere through a functional trait-based lens and provide a framework to characterize microbial functional rarity, a combination of numerical scarcity across space or time and trait distinctiveness. We demonstrate how this novel interpretation of the rare biosphere, rooted in microbial functions, can enhance our mechanistic understanding of microbial community structure. It also sheds light on functionally distinct microbes, directing conservation efforts towards taxa harboring rare yet ecologically crucial functions., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study highlights the importance of monitoring cattle feeding behavior using the YOLO algorithm for object detection. Videos of six Charolais bulls were recorded on a French farm, and three feeding behaviors (biting, chewing, visiting) were identified and labeled using Roboflow. YOLOv8 and YOLOv10 were compared for their performance in detecting these behaviors. YOLOv10 outperformed YOLOv8 with slightly higher precision, recall, mAP50, and mAP50-95 scores. Although both algorithms demonstrated similar overall accuracy (around 90%), YOLOv8 reached optimal training faster and exhibited less overfitting. Confusion matrices indicated similar patterns of prediction errors for both versions, but YOLOv10 showed better consistency. This study concludes that while both YOLOv8 and YOLOv10 are effective in detecting cattle feeding behaviors, YOLOv10 exhibited superior average performance, learning rate, and speed, making it more suitable for practical field applications.

The quantification of pesticide dissipation in agricultural soil is challenging. In this study, we investigated atrazine biodegradation in both liquid and soil experiments bioaugmented with distinct atrazine-degrading bacterial isolates. This was achieved by combining 14 C-mineralisation assays and compound-specific isotope analysis of atrazine. In liquid experiments, the three bacterial isolates mineralised over 40% of atrazine, demonstrating their potential for extensive degradation. However, the kinetics of mineralisation and degradation varied among the isolates. Carbon stable isotope fractionation was similar for Pseudomonas isolates ADPT34 and ADP2T0, but slightly higher for Chelatobacter SR27. In soil experiments, atrazine primarily degraded into atrazine-desethyl, while atrazine-hydroxy was mainly observed in experiments with SR27. Atrazine mineralisation in soil by ADPT34 and SR27 exceeded 40%, whereas ADP2T0 exhibited a mineralisation rate of 10%. In experiments with ADPT34 and SR27, atrazine 14 C-residues were predominantly found in the non-extractable fraction, whereas they accumulated in the extractable fraction in the experiment with ADP2T0. Compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) relies on changes of stable isotope ratios and holds potential to evaluate herbicide transformation in soil. CSIA of atrazine indicated atrazine biodegradation in water and solvent extractable soil fractions and varied between 29% and 52%, depending on the bacterial isolate. Despite atrazine degradation in both soil fractions, a significant portion of atrazine residues persisted, depending on the bacterial degrader, initial cell concentration, and mineralisation and degradation rates. Overall, our approach can aid in quantifying atrazine persistence and degradation in soil, and in optimizing bioaugmentation strategies for remediating soils contaminated with persistent herbicides., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Three bacterial strains, 1AS14I T , 1AS12I and 6AS6, isolated from root nodules of Acacia saligna , were characterized using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on rrs sequences placed all three strains within the Rhizobium leguminosarum complex. Further phylogeny, based on 1 756 bp sequences of four concatenated housekeeping genes ( recA , atpD , glnII and gyrB ), revealed their distinction from known rhizobia species of the R. leguminosarum complex (Rlc), forming a distinct clade. The closest related species, identified as Rhizobium laguerreae , with a sequence identity of 96.4% based on concatenated recA - atpD - glnII - gyrB sequences. The type strain, 1AS14I T , showed average nucleotide identity (ANI) values of 94.9, 94.3 and 94.1% and DNA-DNA hybridization values of 56.1, 57.4 and 60.0% with the type strains of closest known species: R. laguerreae , Rhizobium acaciae and 'Rhizobium indicum', respectively. Phylogenomic analyses using 81 up-to-date bacteria core genes and the Type (Strain) Genome Server pipeline further supported the uniqueness of strains 1AS14I T , 1AS12I and 6AS6. The relatedness of the novel strains to NCBI unclassified Rhizobium sp. (396 genomes) and metagenome-derived genomes showed ANI values from 76.7 to 94.8% with a species-level cut-off of 96%, suggesting that strains 1AS14I, 1AS12I and 6AS6 are a distinct lineage. Additionally, differentiation of strains 1AS14I T , 1AS12I and 6AS6 from their closest phylogenetic neighbours was achieved using phenotypic, physiological and fatty acid content analyses. Based on the genomic, phenotypic and biochemical data, we propose the establishment of a novel rhizobial species, Rhizobium aouanii sp. nov., with strain 1AS14I T designated as the type strain (=DSM 113914 T =LMG 33206 T ). This study contributes to the understanding of microbial diversity in nitrogen-fixing symbioses, specifically within Acacia saligna ecosystems in Tunisia.

Pea is a grain legume crop with a high potential to accelerate the food transition due to its high seed protein content and relatively well-balanced amino acid composition. The critical role of external sulfur (S) supply in determining seed yield and seed quality in pea makes it essential to understand the impact of whole plant S management on the trade-off between these two traits. Here, we investigated the physiological relevance of vacuolar sulfate remobilization by targeting PsSULTR4, the only pea sulfate transporter showing substantial similarity to the vacuolar sulfate exporter AtSULTR4;1. Five mutations in PsSULTR4 were identified by TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes), two of which, a loss of function (W78*) and a missense (E568K), significantly decreased seed yield under S deprivation. We demonstrate that PsSULTR4 triggers S distribution from source tissues, especially lower leaves, to reproductive organs to maintain seed yield under S deficiency. Under sufficient S supply, sultr4 seeds display lower levels of the S-rich storage protein PA1 at maturity. They also overaccumulate sulfate in the endosperm at the onset of seed filling. These findings uncover a role of PsSULTR4 in the remobilization of vacuolar sulfate during embryo development, allowing the efficient synthesis of S-rich proteins. Our study uncovers that PsSULTR4 functions (i) in source tissues to remobilize stored vacuolar sulfate for seed production under low S availability and (ii) in developing seeds well supplied with S to fine-tune sulfate remobilization from the endosperm as a critical control point for storage activities in the embryo., (© 2024 Society for Experimental Biology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Fermented food consumption is recommended for health and environmental purposes. While it is known to impact gut microbiota, further investigation is needed to establish connections with the oral microbiota. For this purpose, we investigated the effect of daily consumption of a model cheese containing 3 Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) species on the oral microbiota of rats following a 3-week diet. Cheese consumption transiently modifies the oral microbiota and leads to a transient persistence of LAB in the oral cavity of 1/3 of the animals. The origin of this variability was partly explained by an overrepresentation of salivary proteins involved in the response to oxidative stress in animals without LAB persistence. These findings highlight the significance of fermented foods in shaping the diversity of the oral microbiota. Additionally, they suggest that variations in the salivary proteome among individuals may influence the permissiveness of the oral microbiota towards exogenous microorganisms., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Despite their low quantity and abundance, the cellulolytic bacteria that inhabit the equine large intestine are vital to their host, as they enable the crucial use of forage-based diets. Fibrobacter succinogenes is one of the most important intestinal cellulolytic bacteria. In this study, Fibrobacter sp. HC4, one cellulolytic strain newly isolated from the horse cecum, was characterized for its ability to utilize plant cell wall fibers. Fibrobacter sp. HC4 consumed only cellulose, cellobiose, and glucose and produced succinate and acetate in equal amounts. Among genes coding for CAZymes, 26% of the detected glycoside hydrolases (GHs) were involved in cellulolysis. These cellulases belong to the GH5, GH8, GH9, GH44, GH45, and GH51 families. Both carboxymethyl cellulase and xylanase activities of Fibrobacter sp. HC4 were detected using the Congo red method and were higher than those of F. succinogenes S85, the type strain. The in vitro addition of Fibrobacter sp. HC4 to a fecal microbial ecosystem of horses with large intestinal acidosis significantly enhanced fibrolytic activity as measured by the increase in gas and volatile fatty acids production during the first 48 h. According to this, the pH decreased and the disappearance of dry matter increased at a faster rate with Fibrobacter sp. HC4. Our data suggest a high specialization of the new strain in cellulose degradation. Such a strain could be of interest for future exploitation of its probiotic potential, which needs to be further determined by in vivo studies.IMPORTANCECellulose is the most abundant of plant cell wall fiber and can only be degraded by the large intestine microbiota, resulting in the production of volatile fatty acids that are essential for the host nutrition and health. Consequently, cellulolytic bacteria are of major importance to herbivores. However, these bacteria are challenged by various factors, such as high starch diets, which acidify the ecosystem and reduce their numbers and activity. This can lead to an imbalance in the gut microbiota and digestive problems such as colic, a major cause of mortality in horses. In this work, we characterized a newly isolated cellulolytic strain, Fibrobacter sp. HC4, from the equine intestinal microbiota. Due to its high cellulolytic capacity, reintroduction of this strain into an equine fecal ecosystem stimulates hay fermentation in vitro . Isolating and describing cellulolytic bacteria is a prerequisite for using them as probiotics to restore intestinal balance., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

IRE1, BI-1, and bZIP60 monitor compatible plant-potexvirus interactions though recognition of the viral TGB3 protein. This study was undertaken to elucidate the roles of three IRE1 isoforms, the bZIP60U and bZIP60S, and BI-1 roles in genetic reprogramming of cells during potexvirus infection. Experiments were performed using Arabidopsis thaliana knockout lines and Plantago asiatica mosaic virus infectious clone tagged with the green fluorescent protein gene (PlAMV-GFP). There were more PlAMV-GFP infection foci in ire1a/b, ire1c, bzip60, and bi-1 knockout than wild-type (WT) plants. Cell-to-cell movement and systemic RNA levels were greater bzip60 and bi-1 than in WT plants. Overall, these data indicate an increased susceptibility to virus infection. Transgenic overexpression of AtIRE1b or StbZIP60 in ire1a/b or bzip60 mutant background reduced virus infection foci, while StbZIP60 expression influences virus movement. Transgenic overexpression of StbZIP60 also confers endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress resistance following tunicamycin treatment. We also show bZIP60U and TGB3 interact at the ER. This is the first demonstration of a potato bZIP transcription factor complementing genetic defects in Arabidopsis. Evidence indicates that the three IRE1 isoforms regulate the initial stages of virus replication and gene expression, while bZIP60 and BI-1 contribute separately to virus cell-to-cell and systemic movement., (© 2024 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2024 New Phytologist Foundation.)

The plant plasma membrane (PM) plays a key role in perception of environmental signals, and set-up of adaptive responses. An exhaustive and quantitative description of the whole set of lipids and proteins constituting the PM is necessary to understand how these components allow to fulfill such essential physiological functions. Here we provide by state-of-the-art approaches the first combined reference of the plant PM lipidome and proteome from Arabidopsis thaliana suspension cell culture. We identified and quantified a reproducible core set of 2165 proteins, which is by far the largest set of available data concerning this plant PM proteome. Using the same samples, combined lipidomic approaches, allowing the identification and quantification of an unprecedented repertoire of 414 molecular species of lipids showed that sterols, phospholipids, and sphingolipids are present in similar proportions in the plant PM. Within each lipid class, the precise amount of each lipid family and the relative proportion of each molecular species were further determined, allowing to establish the complete lipidome of Arabidopsis PM, and highlighting specific characteristics of the different molecular species of lipids. Results obtained point to a finely tuned adjustment of the molecular characteristics of lipids and proteins. More than a hundred proteins related to lipid metabolism, transport, or signaling have been identified and put in perspective of the lipids with which they are associated. This set of data represents an innovative resource to guide further research relative to the organization and functions of the plant PM., (© 2024 Society for Experimental Biology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

While sheep can detect and discriminate human emotions through visual and vocal cues, their reaction to human body odors remains unknown. The present study aimed to determine whether sheep (Ovis aries) can detect human odors, olfactorily discriminate stressed from non-stressed individuals, and behave accordingly based on the emotional valence of the odors. Axillary secretions from 34 students were collected following an oral examination (stress odor) or a regular class (non-stress odor). Fourteen female and 15 male lambs were then exposed to these odors through a habituation-dishabituation procedure. The habituation stimulus was presented four times for one minute, followed by the dishabituation stimulus presented once for one minute. Behavioral variables included spatiality relative to target odors, approach/withdrawal, ear positioning, sniffing, ingestion, and vocalization. Both female and male lambs more often positioned their ears backwards/forwards, and asymmetrically when exposed to the dishabituation stimulus, but regardless of their stress or non-stress value. They also changed their approach behavior when exposed to the dishabituation stimuli. Lambs displayed some behavioral signs of discrimination between the habituation and dishabituation odors, but regardless of their relation to stress or non-stress of human donors. In sum, this exploratory study suggests that young sheep respond negatively to the odor of unfamiliar humans, without showing any specific emotional contagion related to the stress odor. This exploratory study suggests young ovines can detect human body odor, a further step toward understanding the human-sheep relationship., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

To cope with environmental stresses, organisms, including lactic acid bacteria such as O. oeni, produce stress proteins called HSPs. In wine, O. oeni is constantly confronted by stress affecting its membrane fluidity. To survive through in these deleterious conditions, O. oeni synthesizes Lo18, a unique, small HSP which acts as a molecular chaperone and a lipochaperone. The molecular mechanism underlying its lipochaperone activity, particularly regarding membrane lipid composition, remains poorly understood. In this context, Lo18 lipochaperone activity and the associated modification in protein structure were studied during interaction with different liposomes from O. oeni cultures representing unstressed, stressed and stressed-adapted physiological states. The results showed that the presence of the membrane (whatever its nature) induces a modification of Lo18's structure. Also, the presence of oleic acid and/or phosphatidylglycerol is important to favor Lo18-membrane interaction, allowing lipochaperone activity. This research enhances understanding of sHSP-membrane interactions in bacterial systems., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Black rot ( Guignardia bidwellii ) and downy mildew ( Plasmopara viticola ) are two major grapevine diseases against which the development of efficient biocontrol solutions is required in a context of sustainable viticulture. This study aimed at evaluating and comparing the efficacy and modes of action of bacterial culture supernatants from Bacillus velezensis Buz14 and B. ginsengihumi S38. Both biocontrol agents (BCA) were previously demonstrated as highly effective against Botrytis cinerea in grapevines. In semi-controlled conditions, both supernatants provided significant protection against black rot and downy mildew. They exhibited antibiosis against the pathogens by significantly decreasing G. bidwellii mycelial growth, but also the release and motility of P. viticola zoospores. They also significantly induced grapevine defences, as stilbene production. The LB medium, used for the bacterial cultures, also showed partial effects against both pathogens and induced plant defences. This is discussed in terms of choice of experimental controls when studying the biological activity of BCA supernatants. Thus, we identified two bacterial culture supernatants as new potential biocontrol products exhibiting multi-spectrum antagonist activity against different grapevine key pathogens and having a dual mode of action.

Background: Titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) is banned in some countries but its use is still permitted in others. The global food supply chain is therefore challenged with the need to use rapid and reliable testing methods to either detect the presence of TiO 2 or to quantify its concentration. The goal of this study was to determine the feasibility of using color, texture profile analysis, Raman microscopy, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy to detect and quantify TiO 2 in fillings used in the pastry and confectionery industry. In this study, two types of fillings were investigated: vanilla based and chocolate based. All fillings were prepared in four different variations - without TiO 2 and with three concentrations as follows: 0.25 g*kg -1 , 0.5 g*kg -1 , or 0.75 g*kg -1 TiO 2 per sample. The methods were selected for their ability to analyze the samples in a short period of time., Results: All of the methods showed moderate to high potential for detecting TiO 2 in the samples. The results reveal how TiO 2 affects the food matrix color and texture. Use of Raman microscopy confirms its detectability, although concentrations of TiO 2 do not follow a pattern. X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy showed the greatest potential as it can not only detect TiO 2 but can also quantify its concentration in the samples., Conclusions: The highest potential for quantifying the concentration of this food additive was achieved with XRF. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)

The introduction of Reduced height (Rht) dwarfing genes into elite wheat varieties has contributed to enhanced yield gain in high input agrosystems by preventing lodging. Yet, how modern selection for dwarfing has affected symbiosis remains poorly documented. In this study, we evaluated the response of both the plant and the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus to plant genetic variation at a major Quantitative Trait Locus called QTL 4B2, known to harbor a Rht dwarfing gene, when forming the symbiosis. We used twelve inbred genotypes derived from a diversity base broadened durum wheat Evolutionary Pre-breeding Population and genotyped with a high-throughput Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) genotyping array. In a microcosm setup segregating roots and the extra-radical mycelium, each wheat genotype was grown with or without the presence of Rhizophagus irregularis. To characterize arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, we assessed hyphal density, root colonization, spore production, and plant biomass. Additionally, we split the variation of these variables due either to genotypes or to the Rht dwarfing genes alone. The fungus exhibited greater development in the roots of Dwarf plants compared to non-Dwarf plants, showing increases of 27%, 37% and 51% in root colonization, arbuscules, and vesicles, respectively. In addition, the biomass of the extra-radical fungal structures increased by around 31% in Dwarf plants. The biomass of plant roots decreased by about 43% in mycorrhizal Dwarf plants. Interestingly, extraradical hyphal production was found to be partly genetically determined with no significant effect of Rht, as for plant biomasses. In contrast, variations in root colonization, arbuscules and extraradical spore production were explained by Rht dwarfing genes. Finally, when mycorrhizal, Dwarf plants had significantly lower total P content, pointing towards a less beneficial symbiosis for the plant and increased profit for the fungus. These results highlight the effect of Rht dwarfing genes on both root and fungal development. This calls for further research into the molecular mechanisms governing these effects, as well as changes in plant physiology, and their implications for fostering arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in sustainable agrosystems., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

This research aimed to produce eco-friendly straws using soy protein isolate (SPI) and cassava starch (CS) at different ratios by the extrusion technique and by coating with beeswax and shellac wax. Three straw formulations (F) (F1: 24.39% SPI-24.39% CS; F2: 19.51% SPI-29.37% CS; and F3: 14.63% SPI-34.15% CS) were prepared, incorporating glycerol (14.6% w/w ) and water (36.6% w/w ). After extrusion and drying at 80 °C for 20 h, visual assessment favored F2 straws due to smoother surfaces, the absence of particles, and enhanced straightness. For the physical property test, the straws were softened in pH buffer solutions for 5 min. To simulate practical application, mechanical bending strength was studied under different relative humidity (RH) settings. Water absorption reduced the strength as RH increased. F2 straws outperformed other formulations in bending strength at 54% RH. For hydrophobic coatings, F2 was chosen. Beeswax- and shellac wax-coated straws displayed negligible water absorption and sustained their integrity for over 6 h compared to uncoated straws. This study shows that extrusion and natural coatings may make sustainable straws from SPI and CS. These efforts help meet the growing demand for eco-friendly plastic alternatives, opening up new options for single-use straws.

Horse owners and veterinarians report that from the age of 15, their horses can lose body condition and be more susceptible to diseases. Large intestinal microbiome changes may be involved. Indeed, microbiota is crucial for maintaining the condition and health of herbivores by converting fibres into nutrients. This study aimed to compare the faecal microbiome in horses aged from 6 to 30 years old (yo), living in the same environment and consuming the same diet, in order to assess whether the parameters changed linearly with age and whether there was a pivotal age category. Fifty horses were selected from the same environment and distributed across four age categories: 6-10 (n = 12), 11-15 (n = 11), 16-20 (n = 13), and 21-30 (n = 14) yo. All horses had no digestive problems, had teeth suitable for consuming their feed, and were up to date with their vaccination and deworming programmes. After three weeks of constant diet (ad libitum hay and 860 g of concentrate per day), one faecal sample per horse was collected on the same day. The bacterial communities' richness and intra-sample diversity were negatively correlated with age. There was a new distribution of non-beneficial and beneficial taxa, particularly in the 21-30 yo category. Although the faecal concentration of short-chain fatty acids remained stable, the acetate proportion was negatively correlated with age while it was the opposite for the proportions of butyrate, valerate, and iso-valerate. Additionally, the faecal pH was negatively correlated with age. Differences were more pronounced when comparing the 6-10 yo and 21-30 yo categories. The values of the parameters studied became more dispersed from the 16-20 yo category onwards, which appeared as a transitional moment, as it did not differ significantly from the younger and older categories for most of these parameters. Our data suggest that the microbiome changes with age. By highlighting the pivotal age of 16-20, this gives the opportunity to intervene before individuals reach extremes that could lead to pathological conditions., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Baraille et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Highly diverse and abundant organisms coexist in soils. However, the contribution of biotic interactions between soil organisms to microbial community assembly remains to be explored. Here, we assess the extent to which soil fauna can shape microbial community assembly using an exclusion experiment in a grassland field to sort soil biota based on body size. After 1 year, the exclusion of larger fauna favoured phagotrophic protists, with increases up to 32% in their proportion compared to the no-mesh treatment. In contrast, members of the bacterial community and to a lesser extent of the fungal community were negatively impacted. Shifts in bacterial but not in fungal communities were best explained by the response of the protistan community to exclusion. Our findings provide empirical evidence of top-down control on the soil microbial communities and underline the importance of integrating higher trophic levels for a better understanding of the soil microbiome assembly., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Inoculation modes are known to affect yeast behavior. Here, we characterized the impact of ADY and pre-culturing on the composition of the resulting wine, fermented by four commercial strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Classical oenological parameters were not affected by the yeast inoculation mode. Using an untargeted metabolomic approach, a significant distinction in wine composition was noted regardless of the strain between the two inoculation modes, each associated with a specific metabolomic signature. 218 and 895 biomarkers were annotated, respectively, for ADYs associated with the preservation of wine polyphenols, and for pre-cultures related to the modulation of yeast nitrogen metabolism. Volatilome analysis revealed that the ester family was that most impacted by the inoculation mode whatever the strain. Ester production was enhanced in ADY condition. For the first time, the complete reprogramming of the yeast metabolism was revealed as a function of yeast preparation, which significantly impacts its volatilome and exometabolome., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

In recent years, there has been considerable progress in determining the soil properties that influence the structure of the soil microbiome. By contrast, the effects of microorganisms on their soil habitat have received less attention with most previous studies focusing on microbial contributions to soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics. However, soil microorganisms are not only involved in nutrient cycling and organic matter transformations but also alter the soil habitat through various biochemical and biophysical mechanisms. Such microbially mediated modifications of soil properties can have local impacts on microbiome assembly with pronounced ecological ramifications. In this Review, we describe the processes by which microorganisms modify the soil environment, considering soil physics, hydrology and chemistry. We explore how microorganism-soil interactions can generate feedback loops and discuss how microbially mediated modifications of soil properties can serve as an alternative avenue for the management and manipulation of microbiomes to combat soil threats and global change., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Human milk odor is attractive and appetitive for human newborns. Here, we studied behavioral and heart-rate (HR) responses of 2-day-old neonates to the odor of human colostrum. To evaluate detection in two conditions of stimulus delivery, we first presented the odor of total colostrum against water. Second, the hedonic specificity of total colostrum odor was tested against vanilla odor. Third, we delivered only the fresh effluvium of colostrum separated from the colostrum matrix; the stability of this colostrum effluvium was then tested after deep congelation; finally, after sorptive extraction of fresh colostrum headspace, we assessed the activity of colostrum volatiles eluting from the gas chromatograph (GC). Regardless of the stimulus-delivery method, neonates displayed attraction reactions (HR decrease) as well as appetitive oral responses to the odor of total colostrum but not to vanilla odor. The effluvium separated from the fresh colostrum matrix remained appetitive but appeared labile under deep freezing. Finally, volatiles from fresh colostrum effluvium remained behaviorally active after GC elution, although at lower magnitude. In sum, fresh colostrum effluvium and its eluate elicited a consistent increase in newborns' oral activity (relative to water or vanilla), and they induced shallow HR decrease. Newborns' appetitive oral behavior was the most reproducible response criterion to the effluvium of colostrum. In conclusion, a set of unidentified volatile compounds from human colostrum is robust enough after extraction from the original matrix and chromatographic processing to continue eliciting appetitive responses in neonates, thus opening new directions to isolate and assay specific volatile molecules of colostrum., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Dense branching and spines are common features of plant species in ecosystems with high mammalian herbivory pressure. While dense branching and spines can inhibit herbivory independently, when combined, they form a powerful defensive cage architecture. However, how cage architecture evolved under mammalian pressure has remained unexplored. Here we show how dense branching and spines emerged during the age of mammalian radiation in the Combretaceae family and diversified in herbivore-driven ecosystems in the tropics. Phylogenetic comparative methods revealed that modern plant architectural strategies defending against large mammals evolved via a stepwise process. First, dense branching emerged under intermediate herbivory pressure, followed by the acquisition of spines that supported higher speciation rates under high herbivory pressure. Our study highlights the adaptive value of dense branching as part of a herbivore defence strategy and identifies large mammal herbivory as a major selective force shaping the whole plant architecture of woody plants., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Glutathione transferases are xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes with both glutathione-conjugation and ligandin roles. GSTs are present in chemosensory tissues and fluids of the nasal/oral cavities where they protect tissues from exogenous compounds, including food molecules. In the present study, we explored the presence of the omega-class glutathione transferase (GSTO1) in the rat oral cavity. Using immunohistochemistry, GSTO1 expression was found in taste bud cells of the tongue epithelium and buccal cells of the oral epithelium. Buccal and lingual extracts exhibited thiol-transferase activity (4.9 ± 0.1 and 1.8 ± 0.1 μM/s/mg, respectively). A slight reduction from 4.9 ± 0.1 to 4.2 ± 0.1 μM/s/mg ( p < 0.05; Student's t test) was observed in the buccal extract with 100 μM GSTO1-IN-1, a specific inhibitor of GSTO1. RnGSTO1 exhibited the usual activities of omega GSTs, i . e ., thiol-transferase (catalytic efficiency of 8.9 × 10 4 M -1 ·s -1 ), and phenacyl-glutathione reductase (catalytic efficiency of 8.9 × 10 5 M -1 ·s -1 ) activities, similar to human GSTO1. RnGSTO1 interacts with food phytochemicals, including bitter compounds such as luteolin (K i = 3.3 ± 1.9 μM). Crystal structure analysis suggests that luteolin most probably binds to RnGSTO1 ligandin site. Our results suggest that GSTO1 could interact with food phytochemicals in the oral cavity.

Manure application improves soil fertility, yet its implications on the success of invasion of manure-borne microorganisms in the soil are poorly understood. Here, we assessed the importance of abiotic and biotic factors in modulating the extent to which manure-borne fungal and bacterial communities can invade resident soil microbial communities. For this purpose, we applied varying frequencies of two different amounts of manure to nine soils differing in physico-chemical properties, as well as in land-use history, over 180 days and monitored changes in bacterial and fungal communities. Variance partitioning revealed differential contributions of abiotic and biotic factors to invasion success, which together accounted for up to 82 % of the variance explained. We showed that the effects of interactions between biotic and abiotic factors increased with coalescence frequency and manure amount for the bacterial and fungal communities, respectively. Both abiotic and biotic factors were important for modulating coalescence asymmetry for the bacterial community, whereas abiotic factors had a greater effect on the fungal community. These results provide new insights into the drivers of coalescence events between manure and resident soil microbial communities. Moreover, our findings highlight the roles of the mixing ratio and frequency of coalescence events in modulating the survival of manure-borne microorganisms., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Preterm birth and its related complications have become more and more common as neonatal medicine advances. The concept of "developmental origins of health and disease" has raised awareness of adverse perinatal events in the development of diseases later in life. To explore this concept, we propose that encephalopathy of prematurity (EoP) as a potential pro-inflammatory early life event becomes a novel risk factor for metabolic diseases in children/adolescents and adulthood. Here, we review epidemiological evidence that links preterm birth to metabolic diseases and discuss possible synergic roles of preterm birth and neuroinflammation from EoP in the development of metabolic diseases. In addition, we explore theoretical underlying mechanisms regarding developmental programming of the energy control system and HPA axis., Competing Interests: There are no conflict of interest among all authors.", (© 2024 The Authors.)

By assessing the changes in stable isotope compositions within individual pesticide molecules, Compound Specific Isotope Analysis (CSIA) holds the potential to identify and differentiate sources and quantify pesticide degradation in the environment. However, the environmental application of pesticide CSIA is limited by the general lack of knowledge regarding the initial isotopic composition of active substances in commercially available formulations used by farmers. To address this limitation, we established a database aimed at cataloguing and disseminating isotopic signatures in commercial formulations to expand the use of pesticide CSIA. Our study involved the collection of 25 analytical standards and 120 commercial pesticide formulations from 23 manufacturers. Subsequently, 59 commercial formulations and 25 standards were extracted, and each of their active substance was analyzed for both δ 13 C (n = 84) and δ 15 N CSIA (n = 43). The extraction of pesticides did not cause significant isotope fractionation (Δ 13 C and Δ 15 N < 1‰). Incorporating existing literature data, stable carbon and nitrogen isotope signatures varied in a relatively narrow range among pesticide formulations for different pesticides (Δ 13 C and Δ 15 N < 10‰) and within different formulations for a single substance (Δ 13 C and Δ 15 N < 2‰). Overall, this suggests that pesticide CSIA is more suited for identifying pesticide transformation processes rather than differentiating pesticide sources. Moreover, an inter-laboratory comparison showed similar δ 13 C (Δ 13 C ≤ 1.2 ‰) for the targeted substances albeit varying GC-IRMS instruments. Insignificant carbon isotopic fractionation (Δ 13 C < 0.5‰) was observed after 4 years of storing the same pesticide formulations, confirming their viability for long-term storage at 4 °C and future inter-laboratory comparison exercises. Altogether, the ISOTOPEST database, in open access for public use and additional contributions, marks a significant advancement in establishing an environmentally relevant pesticide CSIA approach., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Low-temperature (9-12 °C) pulsed electric field (PEF) was investigated in milk before cream separation at different intensities (9-27 kV/cm, 66 μs, 16-28 kJ/L) regarding its potential to render processing more sustainable, retain a high physico-chemical quality, enhance functional properties, and gently modify the structure of the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM). Cream volume per L milk were most efficiently increased by 31 % at the lowest PEF intensity in comparison to untreated milk and cream (P < 0.05). Untreated and PEF-treated milk and obtained cream were assessed with compositional (fat, protein, casein, lactose, and total solids content) and particle size distribution analyses, showing no significant differences (P ≥ 0.05) and, thus, indicating retention of 'native-like' product quality. Overrun and stability of cream, whipped for 20 and 60 s at 15000 rpm using a high-shear mixer, were improved most notably by the lowest and the highest PEF intensities, achieving up to 69 % enlarged overrun and up to 22 % higher stability, respectively (P < 0.05), than in untreated whipped cream. Protein component analyses for milk and cream were carried out by sodium dodecylsulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Noticeable differences between untreated and PEF-treated milk were not observed, but the SDS-PAGE results for cream showed noticeably different bands for some of the protein components, indicating structural changes in MFGM-, whey-, and phospho-proteins due to PEF and/or separator processing effects. More intense bands of xanthine oxidase, xanthine dehydrogenase, butyrophilin, bovine serum albumine, adipophilin (ADPH), and glycoproteins PAS6/7 were observed specifically at 21 kV/cm. Gentle electroporation of both MFGM layers by PEF was determined based on the changes in MFGM monolayer components, such as ADPH and PAS 6/7, exhibiting intensified bands. PEF intensity-dependent impact on the structure of MFGM and casein, leading to a reconfiguration of the cream matrix due to different structuring interactions among proteins, among milk fat globules, and between fat and protein components, was suggested. Overall, low-temperature PEF applied at different intensities showed great potential for gentle, efficient, and functional properties-tailored dairy processing and may also enable effective extraction of highly bioactive ingredients from dairy sources., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Microbial inoculants are attracting growing interest in agriculture, but their efficacy remains unreliable in relation to their poor survival, partly due to the competition with the soil resident community. We hypothesised that recurrent inoculation could gradually alleviate this competition and improve the survival of the inoculant while increasing its impact on the resident bacterial community. We tested the effectiveness of such strategy with four inoculation sequences of Pseudomonas fluorescens strain B177 in soil microcosms with increasing number and frequency of inoculation, compared to a non-inoculated control. Each sequence was carried out at two inoculation densities (10 6 and 10 8 cfu.g soil -1 ). The four-inoculation sequence induced a higher abundance of P. fluorescens, 2 weeks after the last inoculation. No impact of inoculation sequences was observed on the resident community diversity and composition. Differential abundance analysis identified only 28 out of 576 dominants OTUs affected by the high-density inoculum, whatever the inoculation sequence. Recurrent inoculations induced a strong accumulation of nitrate, not explained by the abundance of nitrifying or nitrate-reducing microorganisms. In summary, inoculant density rather than inoculation pattern matters for inoculation effect on the resident bacterial communities, while recurrent inoculation allowed to slightly enhance the survival of the inoculant and strongly increased soil nitrate content., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The European Green Deal aims to reduce the pesticide use, notably by developing biocontrol products to protect crops from diseases. Indeed, the use of significant amounts of chemicals negatively impact the environment such as soil microbial biodiversity or groundwater quality, and human health. Grapevine ( Vitis vinifera ) was selected as one of the first targeted crop due to its economic importance and its dependence on fungicides to control the main damaging diseases worldwide: grey mold, downy and powdery mildews. Chitosan, a biopolymer extracted from crustacean exoskeletons, has been used as a biocontrol agent in many plant species, including grapevine, against a variety of cryptogamic diseases such as downy mildew ( Plasmopara viticola ), powdery mildew ( Erysiphe necator ) and grey mold ( Botrytis cinerea ). However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying its mode of action remain unclear: is it a direct biopesticide effect or an indirect elicitation activity, or both? In this study, we investigated six chitosans with diverse degrees of polymerization (DP) ranging from low to high DP (12, 25, 33, 44, 100, and 470). We scrutinized their biological activities by evaluating both their antifungal properties and their abilities to induce grapevine immune responses. To investigate their elicitor activity, we analyzed their ability to induce MAPKs phosphorylation, the activation of defense genes and metabolite changes in grapevine. Our results indicate that the chitosans with a low DP are more effective in inducing grapevine defenses and possess the strongest biopesticide effect against B. cinerea and P. viticola . We identified chitosan with DP12 as the most efficient resistance inducer. Then, chitosan DP12 has been tested against downy and powdery mildews in the vineyard trials performed during the last three years. Results obtained indicated that a chitosan-based biocontrol product could be sufficiently efficient when the amount of pathogen inoculum is quite low and could be combined with only two fungicide treatments during whole season programs to obtain a good protection efficiency. On the whole, a chitosan-based biocontrol product could become an interesting alternative to meet the chemicals reduction targeted in sustainable viticulture., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Brulé, Héloir, Roudaire, Villette, Bonnet, Pascal, Darblade, Crozier, Hugueney, Coma and Poinssot.)

Maintaining energy balance is essential for survival and health. This physiological function is controlled by the brain, which adapts food intake to energy needs. Indeed, the brain constantly receives a multitude of biological signals that are derived from digested foods or that originate from the gastrointestinal tract, energy stores (liver and adipose tissues) and other metabolically active organs (muscles). These signals, which include circulating nutrients, hormones and neuronal inputs from the periphery, collectively provide information on the overall energy status of the body. In the brain, several neuronal populations can specifically detect these signals. Nutrient-sensing neurons are found in discrete brain areas and are highly enriched in the hypothalamus. In turn, specialized brain circuits coordinate homeostatic responses acting mainly on appetite, peripheral metabolism, activity and arousal. Accumulating evidence shows that hypothalamic microglial cells located at the vicinity of these circuits can influence the brain control of energy balance. However, microglial cells could have opposite effects on energy balance, that is homeostatic or detrimental, and the conditions for this shift are not totally understood yet. One hypothesis relies on the extent of microglial activation, and nutritional lipids can considerably change it., (© 2022 The Authors. The FEBS Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Federation of European Biochemical Societies.)

Purpose: Gut can be a source of sepsis but sepsis itself can induce gut dysfunction. We aimed to study whether plasma citrulline, a marker of enterocyte mass, was correlated with plasma lipopolysaccharide, a potential marker of bacterial translocation among critically ill patients., Materials and Methods: Critically ill patients admitted to the ICU. Plasma citrulline and plasma LPS concentration and activity were measured at ICU admission. Patients were compared according to the presence of sepsis at ICU admission., Results: 109 critically ill patients, with SOFA score 8 [6-12], were prospectively included. Sixty six patients (61%) had sepsis at ICU admission. There was no correlation between plasma citrulline concentration and plasma LPS concentration or activity. However, sepsis at ICU admission was associated with a lower plasma citrulline concentration (13.4 μmol.L -1 vs 21.3 μmol.L -1 , p = 0.02). Plasma LPS activity was significantly higher among patients with abdominal sepsis compared to patients with extra-abdominal sepsis (1.04 EU/mL vs 0.63, p = 0.01)., Conclusions: Plasma citrulline is not associated with the level of plasma LPS but is strongly decreased among septic patients. Detection of LPS is ubiquitous among critically ill patients but abdominal sepsis is associated with increased plasma LPS activity compared to extra-abdominal sepsis., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)